Movewell

Tamra James-Stocum is fascinated by all things human kinetics. We must move through the world to survive, so why not make it effortless and optimal?!

Tamra grew up in Tucson, Arizona chasing her two brothers in the desert, playing every sport under the sun, and climbing any tree she could find.

She moved to Arcata, California to attend Cal Poly Humboldt on a full-ride soccer scholarship in 2011. She graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2014 with a BS in Kinesiology, Exercise Science and started an internship at the local Pilates studio in downtown Arcata.

Tamra started doing Pilates in tandem with college soccer and fell in love. She received her teaching certification for Pilates through, BASI or Body, Art, and Science Institute. She started teaching right after graduating college and kept diving into learning with a Yoga Teacher Training, a Holistic Health Practitioner Program, and studying breath work.

Tamra took on ownership of the Pilates studio where she started as an intern in 2019. She dove into teaching online when the pandemic hit, thus Pilates on the Vine was born.

When Tamra is not teaching movement classes she is spending time with her family. Her husband, Byron and daughter Marigold love to hike, camp, surf, and connect with friends.

Alina’s passion for Pilates was ignited during her college days, where she immersed herself in the world of dance and holistic health. This transformative journey allowed her to rediscover her body and movement, paving the way for a deeper connection to herself. Despite a car accident that left her with a series of debilitating injuries and pre-existing imbalances caused by scoliosis, Pilates became her sanctuary, providing solace and relief in the face of chronic pain.

Graduating with a B.S. in Kinesiology from Humboldt State in 2017, Alina embarked on a 500-hour comprehensive Pilates teacher training at Innerstellar Pilates & Yoga Studio in Berkeley. Teaching over the last five years, she’s been honing her craft and still continues to deepen her understanding of the method by studying Classical Progressions under the mentorship of Karen Frishmann.

To Alina, Pilates transcends mere exercises–it’s a gateway to a profound mind-body connection that resonates in every facet of daily living. Her mission is to empower her students with this transformative magic, guiding them toward healing and balance wherever they are on their fitness journey.

When she’s not teaching, Alina indulges in her other passions: dancing, reading, sewing, crocheting, and exploring the virtual worlds of video games.

Takasha Lewis, Yoga and Pilates Instructor, BS Philosophy/Pre-Med, MS Nutrition Science. Born in Queens, New York and raised in Hickory, Mississippi, Takasha began her fitness journey at an early age at home with her mother where she learned about yoga, meditation, and herbs.

She has fond memories of her mother filling gallon water jugs and using them as weights. Her mother was also the first one to introduce her to yoga from the Richard Hittelman Yoga books and taught her about candlelight meditation. After college Takasha attended a yoga teacher training at The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Kripalu Yoga, focuses on opening the fascia through a somatic type yoga experience of breath awareness and mindful movement. The end result being a spontaneous flowing through yoga poses as shakti, divine feminine energy, arises and moves through the body, and can be described as meditation in motion.

The idea of balance is key when we talk about health and fitness and for Takasha, Yoga and PIlates has become exactly that. Where yoga is the moon in terms of its depth, its association with the divine feminine, and ancient spiritual practices. Pilates is the sun. Through Pilates the idea of focusing on the powerhouse of the body, the core and the importance of resistance training are just a few of the Pilates jewels that has deepened Takasha’s understanding of health and healing. Pilates training through the Mindful Movement Collective has been a natural fit for Takasha as it, like Kripalu Yoga, emphasizes breath awareness and mindful somatic movements from the pilates perspective.

Takasha enjoy’s very much teaching students across the age and ability spectrum as she deeply believes that the fitness journey begins exactly where you are, with exactly what you have. At some point in your life you will either work lying on the floor, on a bed, on a reformer, or in a
chair. It is important to know what to do and how to do it to maintain your health and fitness potential however you can. Takasha is currently teaching seated and mat classes. Yes you can get a workout in a chair and feel like you have worked out. Seated classes are slower paced classes with a focus on addressing mobility challenges. Mat classes are fusion based classes, that are full body experiences incorporating mindful somatic movement, pilates, barre, and yoga to strengthen, lengthen, and sculpt as well as improve your flexibility.

Sonja Lyth is a fitness/wellness expert who is passionate about helping her clients build a strong core foundation from the ground up so that they feel stronger, lighter, and empowered in their bodies. Over the last 18 years, she has spent countless hours designing and implementing a broad range of individualized, group exercise, and nutritional programs that have led to incredible transformations.

Sonja utilizes Pilates technique as a foundation for all her functional fitness programs. You’ll find a bit of contemporary style in all of her classes, and no matter your level, she will encourage you to challenge your physical capabilities for healthy improvement in overall strength, balance, and grace.

Sonja holds a degree in Kinesiology and Nutrition as well as certifications through Balanced Body, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Sonja is thrilled to bring her health and fitness background to Movewell!

IG:@sonjalythfitness

Judi Nelson is a Physical Therapist, Ceritified Pilates instructor and licensed Zumba instructor.  Her life purpose is helping people feel good in their bodies.  Pain and restricted movement can really get in the way of living the life you want, and learning how to move without pain and honoring your body’s wisdom is one of the most important things we can do to have a fulfilling, purpose-driven life.  It is with this intention that Judi opened her private physical therapy practice, Balanced Physical Therapy, in Arcata in 1999.  She serves clients with chronic and complex pain syndromes and pelvic health concerns utilizing the tools of Myofascial Release, therapeutic pilates, and guided awareness in offices in Arcata and Willow Creek.  Pilates is the perfect form of therapeutic exercise for anyone in pain or working with an injury because it is highly adaptable.  There is always a way to do a movement without pain, which then helps the body create new patterns and unlearn old dysfunctional patterns.  Through pilates, clients learn to feel their bodies and trust their own innate wisdom, which translates into better body mechanics with everyday tasks, injury prevention, and, ultimately, joy in movement.

Judi loves teaching group pilates classes because she wants to support people who take the time to care for their bodies through ongoing, regular contemplative movement.  This self-care shows self-respect and acknowledges that if you want to do good in the world, it helps if you are healthy and connected to your body.

Judi has also been teaching Zumba since 2011 because she loves to dance and it is a great way to get amazing cardio while having a blast.  Starting your day dancing makes everything better!

Ellie has been teaching fitness for 20 years and has specialized in Mat Pilates, Barre, Yoga, Lagree Fitness, and Indoor Cycling. Over the years, she has worked as an instructor, master trainer, and studio co-owner.

She has an especially strong background in Lagree Fitness. Lagree is a method that evolved from Reformer Pilates to infuse body building techniques with spring-based tension. Her style of Pilates will ask that you move slower, find alignment in your body, and empower you to increase or decrease the intensity of each exercise. Her classes are high energy, emphasize fast transitions, and include loud, upbeat music. Think high-intensity Pilates!

Michele received her classical Pilates training through The Pilates Center (TPC) in Boulder, Colorado. She is a lifelong learner and has also done a course in Pilates for Injuries & Pathologies through Basi Pilates this past fall and is presently taking an Archival Pilates Certification Course.  She also learns more from taking classes regularly from many different instructors. She loves pilates and the pilates community because it promotes wellness and self care. 

Michele wants to create a positive and enjoyable experience for her clients as well as help people feel great moving their bodies, feel more confident, and guide them to be more mobile, flexible, and feel stronger. 

She  loves to teach clients the classical exercises because she is drawn to Joseph Pilates’ philosophy of healing the body through a series of exercises designed for uniform development that has helped her heal after finishing Chemotherapy in 2017. She modifies exercises to meet the needs of her clients, listens and researches to create a plan that will help them further their Pilates journey.